Chanel in All Its Glory: New Necklace Showcases a Rare 20.66-Carat Sri Lankan Sapphire

Lion, camellia, star and sun — all of Chanel’s iconic symbols come together in a single jewelry masterpiece, crowned by an exceptionally rare sapphire.

Some jewels do not need a logo to reveal where they come from. One glance is enough to recognize Chanel, as Robb Report notes.

That is precisely the effect of the new Imprimé Lion necklace, the centerpiece of the house’s Signes & Symboles high jewelry collection. In this extraordinary creation, the French maison brings together much of its visual mythology: the lion, camellia, star and sun. Rendered in delicate arrangements of diamonds, these miniature symbols seem to tell the story of Chanel without saying a word. But the true surprise lies at the heart of the composition — an exceptionally rare 20.66-carat sapphire from Sri Lanka.

In creating the piece, Chanel’s master craftsmen once again turned to the house’s signature codes, many of which hold meaning not only for the brand itself but also for Gabrielle Chanel personally.

Back in 1932, when presenting her first high jewelry collection, Bijoux de Diamants, Coco Chanel spoke of her desire to make jewelry as light and supple as her clothing. She likened precious jewels to a ribbon that should fall naturally and effortlessly around a woman’s fingers.

That philosophy is reflected in the Imprimé Lion as well. The necklace’s diamond “fringe” remains remarkably flexible and fluid despite the considerable complexity and weight of its construction. The piece appears to move with its wearer, creating an impression of extraordinary lightness.

Of course, behind this seemingly effortless design lies an enormous amount of craftsmanship. The necklace required 1,800 hours of handwork to complete. Its diamonds feature five different cuts: triangular, oval, round, baguette and emerald. The structure is crafted from 18-karat white and rose gold.

Every element of the jewel is meticulously finished and polished by hand. For Chanel’s artisans, this is about far more than achieving a flawless appearance: the intricate construction must remain virtually imperceptible to the woman wearing the necklace. Much like haute couture, technical mastery exists here primarily to create a feeling of absolute naturalness.

Yet Imprimé Lion is more than a showcase of exceptional jewelry craftsmanship. It is, in many ways, a portrait of Chanel herself, encoded in precious stones.

The lion was one of Coco Chanel’s personal symbols — she was born under the sign of Leo. The camellia became one of the house’s most recognizable motifs. The stars and sun reflect Chanel’s fascination with symbolism and her desire to create an entire universe of signs and imagery around her.

Many of these motifs are rooted in the personal history of the house’s founder, yet over time they have grown far beyond her biography. Today, the lion, camellia, star and celestial symbols have become a universal visual language of Chanel.

That is precisely what makes Imprimé Lion so striking. There is no need to search for a brand name — its history is woven into every element of the jewel.

This is Chanel told through diamonds, gold and one extraordinarily rare 20.66-carat sapphire from Sri Lanka.